Raila Odinga, the presidential candidate of the Azimio-OKA Coalition, wants the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ensure that the country’s elections are free and fair.
The coalition demanded the IEBC to make public the condition of its preparedness to conduct the August polls in a memorandum delivered to IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati on Sunday.
Raila instructed the electoral board to safeguard and protect the voter registration, which is now being audited, in order to ensure the election’s integrity.
“We want a free and fair election process, and we want this exercise to be done in a free manner as well,” Raila stated. “We want Kenyans to be able to freely express their will on August 9th, and to speak clearly that this is what Kenyans want.”
Raila wants the IEBC to resolve the following issues: electronic voter identification and results transmission, voter register integrity and audit, proposal to alter election regulations, and returning officer recruitment.
The Azimio team is still concerned about the voter list’s integrity.
“Can the commission make the findings of its investigation into the erroneous voter transfer public?” How many voters were impacted by the alleged illegitimate transfers? Which voting stations are affected by the aforementioned erroneous transfers? He asked the commission, “Has the commission established when the stated transfers were made and who was accountable for the irregularity?”
The coalition also wants the commission to address issues such as ballot paper printing, the commission’s contract with Smart-matic, which saw the commission outsource essential electoral processes such as the results transmission requirement document, elections technology, and stakeholder engagement.
It urges the commission to incorporate those who are involved in the elections in all of the election’s material choices and processes.
“When does the commission propose to conduct end-to-end electoral technology testing in a timely manner?” When does the commission propose to issue a public notice announcing the date, time, and location of the electoral technology end-to-end testing and inviting stakeholders to attend?”
Wafula Chebukati, speaking in Kenya’s Bomas, informed Raila Odinga and the general public that there was no reason to be concerned, as all of the required plans for a credible, free, and fair election had been put in place.
“I simply want to reassure you that the commission has addressed all of your concerns, and we are on track for our elections,” Chebukati stated.
Stakeholders would be able to observe how the electoral body will use technology in election processes when a simulation of the same is staged in Kenya’s Bomas by the end of next week, he added.
